The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-14

one stormy evening, late III tnc Au-
tumn the tire of one of the wheels OF
his cart had loosened when he was four
miles from home, and the accident so de-
layed him that it was nine o'clock when
he reached point within mile OF
home. He was singing Coronation"
with unwanton vigor- although his
garments were soaked with the rain
that poured in through the cover and
blew in at the front of his cart. Sud-
denly sharp, clear voice rang ont
from the roadside
'Say, misterr'
Uncle Zenas refined up his horse with
jerk,
"Who is itp" he asked.
"Me," was the immediate reply.
"Well, who's mep"
"Cic'ly White; I'm lost, and haven't
any place to 20 to-"
While speaking, the lost girl came to
the side of the wagon, and began
climbing up over one of the muddy
wheels. She seemed 10 Uncle Zenas
to be small and slight, and without
shawl or bonnet. Mounting slowly to
the seat by his side she said coolly-
Now, you can drive on"
"Ho! no! You don't say SOL Much
'bliged I'm surer' exclaimed Uncle
Zenas, with smile.
Sitting by his side, with the cold ram
driving into both their faces, the girl
told all that she was ever able to tell
about herself, and all that Uncle Ienas
ever knew. There had evidently been
more storm than sunshine in her young
life. aud Uncle Zenas's old cart was as
peaceful and comfortable little haven
as she had ever found.
"My names Cic'ly White" she
said, bluntly. II don't know where
came from, nor where I'm going. /
don't b'long to nobody, and nobody
b'longs to me. I'm 'leven years old,
going on twelve. Once l lived in big
'sylum, or something in big city. One
day n big ugly man and woman c~.ne
to the 'sylum, and took mo to the
country, and the most they did was to
scold, and sometimes beat me. Their
names was Smith. and they said that
my name was that. too. But my name
was White to the 'sylum and that's
my name now.
II didn't have as much to cat as
had at the 'sylum, and the man was
always saying l didn't earn my
victuals. One day he said he was
going West to take new start, and
then little while after they sold most
of the things in the house, and said
they were too poor 10 take me, and
they could leave me somewhere on the
road. So they took me with them,
and after | had rode in the wagon for
two days or so. they made me climb
out, and then they drove of and left
me in the woods all alone by myself.
Smith said if l folered 'em he'o
horsewhip me. He needn't been afeerd.
/ was jest as glad to get shet OF them,
as they was to get shet OF me. i walk
cd the road till towards night and went
to a house, but big dog got after me,
and lickity-cut run back to the woods.
Then the storm came up, and | got
soppin' wet in the bushes I'd crawled
into-and here am, half-starved, and
as Wei as can be- "
The poor waits half humorous, halt
pathetic story touched the tender heart
of Uncle Zenas.
"You poor little soul. he saio.
Were most TO my house now, and my
Serelda II have something nice and hot
for both of us, and we'll see il we can't
get you better bed than the one-the
rain drove you out Of"
Aunt Serclda took the forlorn, be-
draggled child right into her motherly
heart. Them Smiths must have been
unfeelin' brutes," she said.
1t was evident that Cicely was
homeless and friendless child. In her
memory there was no recollection Of
father. mother. sister or brother Be-
yond the "'sylum" she knew nothing
not even the name Of the city In
which the "'sylum" was; and with.
only the common name of White for a
clue. it was useless to try to trace the
identity of the girl.
so we'll keep her." said Uncle
Zenas.